For the Consumer

In addition to its needed effects, some unwanted effects may be caused by clindamycin (the active ingredient contained in Cleocin Phosphate). In the event that any of these side effects do occur, they may require medical attention.

You should check with your doctor immediately if any of these side effects occur when taking clindamycin:

Rare

Cracks in the skin

loss of heat from the body

red, swollen skin scaly skin

Incidence not known

Abdominal or stomach cramps, pain, or tenderness

black, tarry stools

bleeding gums

blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

bloating

blood in the urine or stools

blurred vision

chest pain

chills

clay-colored stools

cloudy urine

confusion

cough or hoarseness

dark urine

decrease in the amount of urine

diarrhea

diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody

difficulty with swallowing

dizziness

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position

dry mouth

fast heartbeat

fever with or without chills

general feeling of tiredness or weakness

headache

heartburn

heart stops

hives or welts, itching, or skin rash

increased thirst

itching of the vagina or genital area

joint or muscle pain

loss of appetite

lower back or side pain

nausea or vomiting

no breathing

no pulse or blood pressure

pain during sexual intercourse

pain in the lower back or side

painful or difficult urination

pinpoint red spots on the skin

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

rash with flat lesions or small raised lesions on the skin

red skin lesions, often with a purple center

red, irritated eyes

redness of the skin

shortness of breath

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips

swollen glands

thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor

thirst

tightness in the chest

unconscious

unpleasant breath odor

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

unusual weight loss

vomiting of blood

yellow eyes or skin

For Healthcare Professionals

Gastrointestinal

The onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms may occur during or after antibacterial treatment and is associated with the presence of Clostridium difficile toxin in the stool. Pseudomembranous colitis may also be associated with toxic megacolon, which can be life-threatening.

An unpleasant or metallic taste has occasionally been reported after high doses of IV clindamycin (the active ingredient contained in Cleocin Phosphate) [Ref]

A 47-year-old female patient with multiple comorbidities was diagnosed with Sweet's Syndrome. The patient's symptoms developed 2 days after initiating oral clindamycin therapy for a tooth infection. The patient's symptoms persisted despite tooth extraction and continuance of antibiotic treatment with intravenous, then oral, clindamycin. Following discontinuation of clindamycin, the patient's symptoms resolved over several days. Drug-induced Sweet's syndrome was determined based on the temporal relationship of the patient's symptoms, the beginning and end of clindamycin therapy, and the exclusion of other etiologies.

Three days after starting oral clindamycin for the persistence of symptoms following a root canal, a 34-year-old male patient reported "pimples" on his scalp which changed to pustules 24 hours later. The lesions progressed and the patient's antibiotic therapy was discontinued. Two days later, the rash improved considerably. The patient met the diagnostic criteria for drug-induced Sweet's syndrome and clindamycin was the most likely cause due to the timeline of antibiotic therapy and the patient's improvement following its discontinuation.[Ref]

Other formulations

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